UK's Tracey-Simmons Named 'Master' Coach

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 18, 2012) — University of Kentucky head Olympic sports strength and conditioning coach Stephanie Tracey-Simmons was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association at the 2012 National Conference, held at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month.

“This is an incredible honor for Stephanie,” says CSCCa Executive Director, Dr. Chuck Stiggins. “Being named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach signifies a commitment to the student-athlete, the University of Kentucky athletic program, and the strength and conditioning profession. We are honored to have Coach Tracey-Simmons as a member of our association and to have her join the ranks of the Master Strength and Conditioning Coaches. She is truly a model of an outstanding strength and conditioning professional.”

The Master Strength and Conditioning Coach honor is the highest given in the strength and conditioning coaching profession, and the ceremony is the highlight of the association’s National Conference each year. Master Strength and Conditioning coaches Ethan Reeve from Wake Forest University and Kevin Yoxall from Auburn University presented Tracey-Simmons with the blue MSCC jacket.

To be eligible for the prestigious award, the individual must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, be a currently practicing, full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate or professional level, hold current membership in the CSCCa, hold the CSCCa Certification, and have a minimum of 12 years of experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level.

“I’m so honored to be recognized through the CSCCa as a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach,” Tracey-Simmons said. “It is a very special milestone in the career of a strength professional and certainly a proud moment for me, my staff and my family. There are many facets that set the standards for this award, but the most difficult piece to achieve is being full-time for 12 years. I am so grateful to Mitch Barnhart, Marc Hill, the sport coaches I work with directly, and the rest of the UK athletics for their support of the strength and conditioning department.  My staff and I are so fortunate to be in a place where strength and conditioning is viewed as such an important component to the success of the student-athletes and the program.”

Tracey-Simmons supervises all Olympic sport strength and conditioning programs at UK, and works directly with the volleyball, softball, swimming and women’s basketball teams.

Tracey-Simmons came to UK from UCLA, where she worked from 1998-2002. She left the Bruins as the associate head strength & conditioning coach in charge of volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s water polo, women’s swimming, women’s basketball and softball. Tracey-Simmons worked with three national championship teams and coached several Olympians. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio University in 1997 and competed in Olympic weightlifting and qualified for the American Open in 1999.